Clarens, Maluti Mountains

Mountain Biking in Clarens, Maluti Mountains,
Free State South Africa

Distance:

12km/7.4mi

Difficulty:

Intermediate - Hard

The Free State is situated on the flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. Known locally as the "breadbasket" of South Africa, it is the agricultural city and most of its land is at 1000 m/3281 ft above sea level. It is the land of rugby, sunny skies and characterized by a continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.

Clarens, situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, offers one of the best mountain biking experience in South Africa. It is said to have beautiful and rich terrain and is mostly a mountain bikers’ haven. Mountain biking here is performed all year round, however during the snow period, it can get tricky and one needs to confirm as soon as possible and before embarking on this adventure.

The trail is a technical loop route covering a distance of 12 km/7.4 mi. Level of difficulty here ranges from intermediate to hard and is not suitable for children. The terrain is characterized by jeep tracks and single track trails and the mountain biking tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

Relevant activites based inSouth Africa

Guided Hike Tour, Panorama Hiking Trail (17km), Stellenbosch

/South Africa, Stellenbosch, Western Cape

This trail is about 17km long, taking the best part of a day, and is recommended only for experienced hikers. It is a fantastic route, showcasing some of the best that the area offers in terms of plant life, scenery and outdoor adventure in general.

The trail starts with a steady climb up the side of the Jonkershoek Valley. You gain altitude quickly and after about 3.5km, the contour path is reached. This is a pleasant respite as you contour along the mountainside, winding in and out of the folds of the mountain. Then, the very steep ascent to Berg River Neck begins. The intense effort required for this uphill is well rewarded with the awesome view down Assegaaibos Gorge on the one side, and Jonkershoek Valley on the other side. Another short ascent takes you onto the stretch of mountain, closing the back of the valley. This entire meandering section offers the stunning panoramic

views for which the trail is named after.
Once the opposite side of the valley is reached, the knee jarring descent starts. The section’s name Kurktrekker, says it all – it is the Afrikaans word for cork screw. The path zig-zags down the mountain at an extremely steep gradient, only levelling somewhat near the valley bottom, where it traces the Eerste River to take you back to our starting point.

We can however accommodate a group for hikes on Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Garden as well and we also have a Vineyard Hiking Trail in Devon valley Stellenbosch, including wine tastings along the way.

This tour combines the beautiful scenery and sites of Historic Stellenbosch with excellent wine pairings and some healthy outdoor exercise.

The tour starts 9:00 at our meeting point (located at Blackhorse Centre, Corner of Dorp and Mark Street). Each rider will collect a bike and helmet to suit their size. We will carry a snack pack for each rider, included in the rate. Our guide will also carry a backpack for those who would like to buy some wine en-route.
Tour starts with a historic tour of Stellenbosch, visiting some of the historic sites of Stellenbosch Town. We will cycle through Stellenbosch and head to the scenic Jonkershoek Valley. A winding road through oak and poplar forests will take you to a beautiful wine estate nestled in the valley bottom; here you can take in the stunning views while doing wine tasting of award winning wines on an island on a lake.
On the way out of the valley, you will stop at another wine estate, which sports beautiful grounds and historic Cape Dutch architecture. Here we will do a cellar tour before we start our Chocolate and Wine pairing that will definitely make your taste buds tingle.
After the tasting we will head back into Stellenbosch Town via the Stellenbosch University before ending the tour again at the meeting point.

There are some variations to the route, with varying difficulty levels so the tour can be tailored to suit everyone’s cycling ability. Family tours can also be booked.

Snorkel tidal pools or the Tsitsikamma National Park’s underwater trails. Imagine moving across the ocean’s surface and marveling at the scenic underwater world from above. Spot rays on the bed of the ocean, chase fish over the reefs and get away from the world’s rush by experiencing a day under the sea. Exploring this kind of splendor is truly amazing and an ideal adventure for the whole family.

This tour is a private tour and a very unique way to experience the fantastic sights and Vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

During the day we will visit 3 to 4 wine estates, depending on your pace and time. With the 4×4 vehicle we shall drive off road up into the vineyards to beautiful vantage points over the Franschhoek, Banghoek and Stellenbosch Valleys respectively. Here you will learn all about the area, vines in the vineyard and also the history of these settlements before going down to the cellars for some tasting.

As this is a private tour, you can decide the place to have lunch, in the town of Franschhoek or Stellenbosch, or even on one of the many wine estates in the region. Join us for an unforgettable experience!!!

This 2-3 hour adventure is the most popular adventure activity where you can experience the best that Tsitsikamma offers! If you are keen to explore deeper into the Storms River Gorge, and experience the deep, long, quiet pools with ancient forests and deep caves then the kayak and lilo trip is for you!

This is a short but adventurous hiking trail, including some climbing and scrambling; however, don’t be deterred if you have limited climbing experience – the tricky sections are optional and there is enough to see without doing those. The trail firstly meanders along the Eerste River and the first waterfall is easily reached. This is a great rest stop, where you can admire the dripping moss banks and old indigenous trees. Soon after, the trail takes a sudden up-turn, curving towards a steep sided gorge.

Where the path meets this gorge is where the really fun part starts! The river is now your path, and at times you will be hopping from rock to rock while vertical cliffs hem you in on either side. A few minutes of wandering between lush ferns, trees and moss takes you to the trickiest section of the hike. Here, those who feel that they would rather not try this section can enjoy the scenery around them, while rest of the group does the last short section up to the second waterfall. For those who make it all the way, the second waterfall is quite a sight to behold as its flow feeds the water plants clothing the cliff face that it runs down. Please note that in high summer the flow of waterfalls may be drastically reduced, however, in late January and February this is one of the few places to witness the flowering of the endangered and very rare Cape Red Disa.

We can however accommodate a group for hikes on Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Garden as well and we also have a Vineyard Hiking Trail in Devon valley Stellenbosch, including wine tastings along the way.

This is a fantastic way to experience most beautiful stretches of coastline in South Africa, combined with an abundance of Fynbos, scenic views of mountain passes and sea. Visit the Stony Point Penguin colony, enjoy a guided walk to a waterfall, view seaside villages and Wineland Towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

This hike takes place within an ancient rock fault within the Jonkershoek valley, and in a relatively short distance it showcases the variety of forms of indigenous flora as well as the geology of the area very well. It is a circular trail, taking you initially through a stand of protea trees, and then winds its way up to a rock strewn slope. The path then levels off onto a flat contour section, offering lovely views over the Jonkershoek valley.

At times, you shall pass through some small pockets of indigenous forest with various tree types that may be well as much as 250 to 300 years old. One of these shady areas will be the ideal spot to stop for lunch. After this section, the zig – zagging descent starts with the impressive cliff face rising up out of the fault line, forming an imposing backdrop to the beautiful scenery. This descent will take you all the way back to our starting point. With such floral variety in the area, there is a good chance to see plants in flower at any time of the year you choose to do this hike.

We can however accommodate a group for hikes on Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Garden as well and we also have a Vineyard Hiking Trail in Devon valley Stellenbosch, including wine tastings along the way.

The Tsitsikamma National Park is a marine protected area filled with a great abundance of marine life. No matter what your scuba experience level, newbie or even pro – you can choose between taking a guided dive, by shore-entry or boat, rent all the gear you need or take a half day Discover Scuba Course and learn to dive in one day!

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Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa, yet its economic power house. It is located in the heart of South Africa's Highveld Region and is highly urbanized and densely populated. Gauteng offers to its visitors an option to explore the hustle and bustle of its urban life or the natural attractions outside its main cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa, yet its economic power house. It is located in the heart of South Africa's Highveld Region and is highly urbanized and densely populated. Gauteng offers to its visitors an option to explore the hustle and bustle of its urban life or the natural attractions outside its main cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

North West is a province in the northern part of South Africa, on the Botswana border and fringed by Kalahari desert to the west, Gauteng province to the east and Free State to the South. Home to the Sun City, it attracts both locals and tourists all year round and has a great deal to offer. It is peaceful and offers a sunny climate all year through, making for a most rewarding holiday experience.

The Free State is situated on the flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. Known locally as the "breadbasket" of South Africa, it is an agricultural city and most of its land lies at 1000 m/3281 ft above sea level. It is the land of rugby, sunny skies and characterized by a continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.

The Free State is situated on the flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. Known locally as the "breadbasket" of South Africa, it is the agricultural city and most of its land is at 1000 m/3281 ft above sea level. It is the land of rugby, sunny skies and characterized by a continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.

North West is a province in the northern part of South Africa, on the Botswana border and fringed by Kalahari desert to the west, Gauteng province to the east and Free State to the South. Home to the Sun City, it attracts both locals and tourists all year round and has a great deal to offer. It is peaceful and offers a sunny climate all year through, making for a most rewarding holiday experience.

The Free State is situated on the flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. Known locally as the "breadbasket" of South Africa, it is an agricultural city and most of its land lies at 1000 m/3281 ft above sea level. It is the land of rugby, sunny skies and characterized by a continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.